Backplane and Daughtercard Connector Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RF connector systems for daughtercard and backplane applications restrict design density due to both sets of contact assemblies being cable-mounted, limiting packaging flexibility for system designers.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector system featuring a backplane connector with movable backplane contact assemblies and a daughtercard connector directly mounted to a circuit board, allowing for greater flexibility through spring-loaded connections and conductive gaskets for EMI/EMP shielding, enabling direct electrical paths between backplane and daughtercard contact assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both backplane and daughtercard contact assemblies are cable-mounted, then reliable electrical connections are maintained, but design density and packaging flexibility are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The connector system is divided into two distinct segments: backplane contact assemblies that remain cable-mounted for reliable connections, and daughtercard contact assemblies that are directly mounted to the circuit board for improved density. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and packaging flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the daughtercard contact assemblies directly mounted while keeping backplane contact assemblies cable-mounted. This reversal of the mounting approach for daughtercard connectors enables greater design density without compromising the reliable cable connections at the backplane level.
2Adaptability or versatility
If daughtercard contact assemblies are directly mounted to circuit board, then design density is improved, but connection reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the mounting approaches: direct mounting for daughtercard contacts achieves high design density, while cable-mounted backplane contacts maintain reliable electrical connections. This segmentation allows density improvement without sacrificing connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The backplane connector housing acts as an intermediary that provides structural support and alignment features for the directly mounted daughtercard contact assemblies, ensuring reliable electrical connections are maintained even with the direct mounting approach.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple RF contact assemblies are used in a single housing, then EMI shielding is maintained, but space efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connector system segments contact assemblies into separate housings: backplane contact assemblies in one housing and daughtercard contact assemblies in another. This segmentation reduces overall connector volume while maintaining EMI shielding within each individual housing through proper grounding and shielding design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single large housing containing all contacts to multiple smaller housings arranged in different spatial dimensions. This dimensional reorganization reduces the volume of each housing while maintaining comprehensive EMI shielding through distributed shielding structures.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An electrical connector system (10) includes a backplane connector (12) and a daughtercard connector 14 coupled to the backplane connector. The backplane connector includes a housing (200) holding a plurality of backplane contact assemblies (20) that are movable relative to the housing and each have a center contact (250) and an outer shell (240) surrounding the center contact configured to be terminated to coaxial cables. The daughtercard connector includes a housing (100) holding a plurality of daughtercard contact assemblies (102) coupled to corresponding backplane contact assemblies. The daughtercard contact assemblies are configured to be directly terminated to a daughtercard circuit board (18).